Pilot: Google Bets $3B on Botetourt, Budget Cuts, and the RidgeYaks Debut

Full Transcript

Intro

Alex: Welcome to The Roanoke Weekly. I’m Alex.

Morgan: And I’m Morgan.

Alex: It’s Monday, March 30th, 2026 — here’s your week in the Star City. Every Monday, we cover the biggest local news and then run down what’s happening around town this week. This is our first episode, and we should mention — this show is locally curated and AI-narrated. We pull from great local sources like the Roanoke Times, WDBJ, WSLS, and Cardinal News, and we encourage you to support them.

Morgan: This week — Google goes official on a massive data center in Botetourt County, thousands rally across Southwest Virginia, budgets are getting cut across the board, and the RidgeYaks take the field for the very first time.

Alex: Let’s get into it.

The Lead: Google’s $3 Billion Data Center Goes Official

Alex: On Thursday, March 26th, Google publicly announced its plans to build a data center campus in Botetourt County. According to the Roanoke Times, this follows two years of coordination with local officials — site visits started back in early 2024, and the Board of Supervisors approved a performance agreement last June that saw Google purchase 312 acres at the Botetourt Center at Greenfield off Route 220 in Daleville.

This is a $3 billion investment. The campus will be 921,000 square feet, supporting Google’s digital services — Maps, Search, the works.

Now here’s the part that’s driving the most conversation. The Western Virginia Water Authority has agreed to reserve up to 2 million gallons of water a day for the campus, but Google’s operation could eventually require up to 8 million gallons a day. The Times reports that Carvins Cove Reservoir holds over 6 billion gallons at full capacity, and the treatment facility can handle 24 million gallons a day — but daily production only averaged about 9.5 million gallons in 2025. So adding 8 million to that is not a small ask.

Google says they’re exploring multiple cooling options and will pay for all infrastructure required to serve the operation. They’ve also got a purchase agreement for the full output of the Rocky Forge Wind project nearby — 79 megawatts.

Morgan: And there’s a bigger picture here too. The Roanoke Times reported Sunday that a Senate proposal to repeal a 16-year data center tax exemption has really shaken rural Virginia. Local governments south of Petersburg are worried the state might pull the rug out on data center development just as they got to the front of the line. The General Assembly left Richmond on March 14th without a budget because of this, and they’re coming back April 23rd for a special session.

Alex: So the Google project isn’t happening in a vacuum. There’s a real statewide fight over whether Virginia keeps incentivizing these projects — and the answer directly affects what happens in Botetourt. We’ll be following this one.

The Rundown: News & Notes

Alex: Alright, let’s run through the rest of what happened this week.

Alex: If you were anywhere near downtown Roanoke on Saturday, you saw it. Thousands turned out for the No Kings rally — Roanoke Indivisible estimated 3,500 in Roanoke alone, and the Roanoke Times says Blacksburg saw its largest turnout yet, with around 2,000 on Henderson Lawn.

Morgan: Southwest Virginia showed up. That’s a significant number for this area.

Morgan: On the budget front — and this one is a heavy week. City Manager Valmarie Turner presented a $421.5 million budget to Council on March 23rd with an $18.9 million shortfall. The Roanoke Times reports the city is freezing 80 to 95 vacant positions and scaling back over $50 million in capital projects — Fire Station Number Two and the Belmont Library renovation are both on hold. If you want to weigh in, community meetings are April 9th and 16th, public hearing April 23rd, and Council votes May 11th.

Alex: And that’s just the city side.

Morgan: Right. The school board voted March 24th to cut 170 positions — about 7% of the workforce. 65 of those are currently filled. And administrators at the coordinator level and above, including Superintendent Verletta White, will each be furloughed one week without pay.

Alex: Between the city and the schools, that’s over 250 positions frozen or eliminated. And Roanoke County, while in better shape, isn’t exactly celebrating either. County Administrator Richard Caywood told supervisors the county is at a — quote — “crossroads,” and that the current funding path is unsustainable long-term. Fleet maintenance alone should be $5 million a year and they’re investing less than one.

Morgan: So across the board, it’s a tight year.

Alex: Shifting gears — Blacksburg is getting ready for legal marijuana. Town officials took the first steps Tuesday to figure out where retail cannabis stores could go. The bill on Governor Spanberger’s desk would take effect January 1st, 2027. The Roanoke Times reports the state would cap retail licenses at 350, and with 323 localities in Virginia, smaller markets might not get a store at all.

Morgan: So Blacksburg might not even get one?

Alex: That’s the math. Spanberger has until April 13th to sign it.

Morgan: And finally — the UVA women are making history. The Cavaliers reached the Sweet 16, becoming the first team ever to get there after playing in the First Four. They beat Arizona State, Georgia, and host Iowa in dramatic fashion. Guard Kymora Johnson — she’s from Charlottesville — scored 28 against both Iowa and Georgia.

Alex: If you’ve been following this run, it’s been really special to watch.

The Week Ahead: Events

Morgan: Thursday — the Salem RidgeYaks take the field for the very first time. Home opener at Carilion Clinic Field against the Delmarva Shorebirds. First pitch is at 6:35. It’s also Bark in the Park, so bring your dog, and they’re giving out player posters courtesy of State Farm. Tickets start at twelve bucks.

Alex: First game ever under the RidgeYaks name. New identity, new branding, same ballpark.

Morgan: And they’ve got three home games this week. Thursday’s the opener, Friday night has post-game fireworks presented by GloFiber, and Saturday is another game with giveaways. If you can only pick one night — Friday fireworks.

Morgan: Also Thursday — Atheling Meadworks downtown is doing a Wicked-inspired paint and sip, 6 to 8. Fun weeknight outing.

Morgan: Friday is a big night. Besides the fireworks game, 5 Points Music Sanctuary has Disco Diner, which is a Widespread Panic tribute. Doors at 6:30, show at 8, tickets twelve to thirty dollars, all ages.

Alex: Widespread Panic tribute in Roanoke feels very on-brand.

Morgan: It does. And the Taubman Museum is doing Late Night at the Taubman — galleries open until 9, behind-the-scenes architecture tours, and a Late Night Lounge for young professionals with drinks and networking. Free, no registration. They’re also in the middle of their 75th anniversary celebration with 241 new acquisitions on display.

Alex: You could honestly do the Taubman first and walk to 5 Points after.

Morgan: That’s not a bad Friday night. Okay — Saturday. Blue Ridge Flower Exchange is doing a seed starting and soil blocking workshop, 11 to 1. Weather’s pushing into the low 80s this week, so the timing is perfect.

Saturday is also Easter egg hunt day — tons of churches and community groups are doing them across the valley. If you’ve got kids, check your neighborhood, there’s probably one close by.

Morgan: Sunday is Easter. The Hotel Roanoke is doing their Grand Easter Celebration in the Regency Room — buffet from 11 to 5, sixty dollars for adults, thirty-two for kids under 12, under 3 free. Billy’s, Six and Sky, The Maridor, and 419 West are all doing Easter brunches too.

Alex: And quick reminder — early voting is open right now through April 18th. Registrar’s Office on Church Avenue. No excuse needed. The stuff we just talked about — budgets, schools, public safety — that gets decided in local elections.

Alex: If you only do one thing this week?

Morgan: Friday night. RidgeYaks and fireworks — and the Taubman is right there if you want to start the evening early.

The Closer

Alex: We’re going to leave you with this one.

Morgan: The Rocky Mount Police Department has a new recruit — a 5-month-old goldendoodle named Maggie. She’s not sniffing out narcotics. She’s not chasing suspects. She’s a therapy dog in training.

Alex: The Roanoke Times reported this week that Maggie spends most days just wandering the station, finding whoever needs a little attention. Her handler, Lieutenant Richardson, says she’s still learning the basics, but she’s already making a difference. Chief Phillip Young put it best — quote — “It would be very hard to be afraid of Maggie.”

Morgan: She made her public debut at the St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl. Schools and community events are next.

Alex: That’s a good way to end a first episode.

Close

Alex: That’s your first Roanoke Weekly. Google’s going big in Botetourt, budgets are tight across the valley, the RidgeYaks debut Thursday, and Maggie the therapy dog is on the job in Rocky Mount.

Morgan: If any of that was useful, share this with one person in the valley. That’s how this grows.

Alex: See you next Monday.